BJJ Fighter
12-12-2003, 15:34
Royce Gracie interview- his thoughts on upcoming Yoshida fight
-Interview performed by Kid Peligro (KP) on ADCC forums-
The buzz in the MMA World lately has been the return of the legendary Royce Gracie against Japanese hero Hidehiko Yoshida. The rematch will be the main event in Pride's Shockwave 2003 show on December 31st.
Royce and Yoshida last faced each other in the original Shockwave on October 2002. The match ended in controversial fashion with a referee stoppage that was challenged as premature by the Gracie Camp and ever since that day fans have clamored for this rematch.
We caught up with Royce this past Wednesday and followed him around for an day witnessing his training etc and were able to slip in a few questions:
KP- Your name in fight history is set and you don't have anything else to prove so why are you fighting?
Royce- I love fighting! I love this.
KP- In the latest issue of Gracie Magazine with you on the cover you stated that you might never fight again. What made you change your mind?
Royce- I was in my corner, quiet, not thinking about anything and then Pride came to us with the offer: 'Do you want to fight Yoshida? I immediately took it! That fight was stuck in my throat and I wanted to clear it.
KP- What were you thinking about the events that took place in the first Shockwave?
Royce- I was very disappointed! If something like that could happen to me then it could happen to anyone. I had that entire thing stuck in my throat! Now Pride came through and I believe they want to make things right! They are a great organization and that was a blemish in their record and they want to make it right!
KP- You are taking this fight very seriously, do you have a special motivation besides wanting the rematch?
Royce- Yoshida has been talking a lot of trash, he has been saying that he is actually going to choke me out or knock me out. Because Pride has admitted that the fight shouldn't have been stopped, it was in the contract that the referee couldn't stop the fight. This time it is no judges, no referees and no doctor's stoppage. This time it is going to be a war!
KP- This time around it is going to be an MMA match with Pride rules on striking and 10 minute rounds, any thoughts on that?
Royce- This is even better, MMA is what I do best. I believe in a Jiu-Jitsu or a Grappling match there are people that can give me a hard time, but when it become NHB and punches and kicks are flying, then it is a different beast and that is what I like and that is what I am good at!
KP- During the fight Yoshida told the referee that you were out and that lead to the disputed stoppage. To this day he insists that you were out and you obviously dispute that. Does that give you an extra incentive?
Royce- He is a lier and I want to hurt him. This is personal now and I am going to hurt him!
KP- Now the talk is about unlimited rounds!
Royce- That is good for me and bad for him. I like it!
KP- Has your training been any different that before?
Royce-The training is the same. People talk about having to train with the best fighters and I don't believe so. You and I went to see Oscar de La Hoya prepare for Vargas fight and he wasn't training with the #1 ranked fighter, in fact he was sparring with his regular sparring partners. He had a great coach and his regular fighters. Tyson doesn't bring Holyfield to spar to prepare to fight with Lennox Lewis. He brings partners that help the ponts he wants. I believe you need great coaches more than anything!
KP- You ususally like to have at least 3 months to prepare and you took this fight on much shorter notice, did that change your preparation for the fight?
Royce- I took this fight on short notice because we had some unfinished business to take care. I just stepped up the training schedule, but nothing has changed.
KP- You are bringing your cousin Rodrigo to help with the training. He has fought in Pride with great sucess. What does he add?
Royce- Rodrigo is a good guy and he has grea presence. He has had good success in Pride, he is used to the rules and I like being around him. I also wanted to bring Ryan but I am not sure, he has been negotiating to fight in the event as well so he has his own preparation to take care.
KP- Is the unlimited rounds thing all settled?
Royce- Pride offered it to us and we have accepted so I beieve that is the way it is going to be.
KP- Anything else you want to add?
Royce- Watch out because this is going to be a war! Royce then turns to his son Khor and says: 'In order to . . .' And Khor goes: 'Acchieve what you want you can never give up!' Be there and see what is going to happen!
-Interview performed by Kid Peligro (KP) on ADCC forums-
The buzz in the MMA World lately has been the return of the legendary Royce Gracie against Japanese hero Hidehiko Yoshida. The rematch will be the main event in Pride's Shockwave 2003 show on December 31st.
Royce and Yoshida last faced each other in the original Shockwave on October 2002. The match ended in controversial fashion with a referee stoppage that was challenged as premature by the Gracie Camp and ever since that day fans have clamored for this rematch.
We caught up with Royce this past Wednesday and followed him around for an day witnessing his training etc and were able to slip in a few questions:
KP- Your name in fight history is set and you don't have anything else to prove so why are you fighting?
Royce- I love fighting! I love this.
KP- In the latest issue of Gracie Magazine with you on the cover you stated that you might never fight again. What made you change your mind?
Royce- I was in my corner, quiet, not thinking about anything and then Pride came to us with the offer: 'Do you want to fight Yoshida? I immediately took it! That fight was stuck in my throat and I wanted to clear it.
KP- What were you thinking about the events that took place in the first Shockwave?
Royce- I was very disappointed! If something like that could happen to me then it could happen to anyone. I had that entire thing stuck in my throat! Now Pride came through and I believe they want to make things right! They are a great organization and that was a blemish in their record and they want to make it right!
KP- You are taking this fight very seriously, do you have a special motivation besides wanting the rematch?
Royce- Yoshida has been talking a lot of trash, he has been saying that he is actually going to choke me out or knock me out. Because Pride has admitted that the fight shouldn't have been stopped, it was in the contract that the referee couldn't stop the fight. This time it is no judges, no referees and no doctor's stoppage. This time it is going to be a war!
KP- This time around it is going to be an MMA match with Pride rules on striking and 10 minute rounds, any thoughts on that?
Royce- This is even better, MMA is what I do best. I believe in a Jiu-Jitsu or a Grappling match there are people that can give me a hard time, but when it become NHB and punches and kicks are flying, then it is a different beast and that is what I like and that is what I am good at!
KP- During the fight Yoshida told the referee that you were out and that lead to the disputed stoppage. To this day he insists that you were out and you obviously dispute that. Does that give you an extra incentive?
Royce- He is a lier and I want to hurt him. This is personal now and I am going to hurt him!
KP- Now the talk is about unlimited rounds!
Royce- That is good for me and bad for him. I like it!
KP- Has your training been any different that before?
Royce-The training is the same. People talk about having to train with the best fighters and I don't believe so. You and I went to see Oscar de La Hoya prepare for Vargas fight and he wasn't training with the #1 ranked fighter, in fact he was sparring with his regular sparring partners. He had a great coach and his regular fighters. Tyson doesn't bring Holyfield to spar to prepare to fight with Lennox Lewis. He brings partners that help the ponts he wants. I believe you need great coaches more than anything!
KP- You ususally like to have at least 3 months to prepare and you took this fight on much shorter notice, did that change your preparation for the fight?
Royce- I took this fight on short notice because we had some unfinished business to take care. I just stepped up the training schedule, but nothing has changed.
KP- You are bringing your cousin Rodrigo to help with the training. He has fought in Pride with great sucess. What does he add?
Royce- Rodrigo is a good guy and he has grea presence. He has had good success in Pride, he is used to the rules and I like being around him. I also wanted to bring Ryan but I am not sure, he has been negotiating to fight in the event as well so he has his own preparation to take care.
KP- Is the unlimited rounds thing all settled?
Royce- Pride offered it to us and we have accepted so I beieve that is the way it is going to be.
KP- Anything else you want to add?
Royce- Watch out because this is going to be a war! Royce then turns to his son Khor and says: 'In order to . . .' And Khor goes: 'Acchieve what you want you can never give up!' Be there and see what is going to happen!